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Intel Core i5-2550K

Intel Core i5-2550K: Review and Relevance in 2025

Sandy Bridge Architecture, 4 Cores, and Unlocked Multiplier — Is This Processor Worth Considering Today?

Key Specifications: What the i5-2550K Offers

Released in 2012, the Intel Core i5-2550K became part of the Sandy Bridge lineup — the second generation of Intel Core architecture. Despite its age, it is still found in budget builds.

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

- Codename: Sandy Bridge.

- Process Technology: 32 nm — an outdated standard (for comparison: modern Intel chips use 7–10 nm).

- Cores/Threads: 4 cores, 4 threads. Lacks Hyper-Threading.

- Base/Turbo Frequency: 3.4 GHz / 3.8 GHz.

- Cache: 6 MB L3.

- TDP: 95 W — moderate power consumption for its time.

Key Features:

- Unlocked Multiplier — allows for overclocking (a popular feature of the "K-series").

- Integrated Graphics — not included (unlike non-K models).

- PCIe 2.0 Support — 16 lanes, which limits compatibility with modern GPUs.

Performance:

- Geekbench 6 (2025): Single-Core — 677, Multi-Core — 2023.

- For comparison: the modern Core i3-12100 (2023) scores ~1800/6000 points.

Compatible Motherboards: What to Look For in 2025

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: LGA1155 — an outdated standard.

- Chipsets:

- P67/Z68/Z77 — for overclocking (required for the i5-2550K).

- H61/H67/B75 — basic boards without overclocking.

Choosing Tips:

- New motherboards for LGA1155 are not being produced. Only used models are available on the market (e.g., ASUS P8Z77-V, Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3).

- Used Prices (2025): $30–60 depending on condition.

- Risks: Component wear (capacitors, PCIe slots), no warranty.

Advice: Check motherboards for the latest BIOS updates for compatibility.

Supported Memory: DDR3 Limitations

- Memory Type: Only DDR3.

- Frequencies: Up to 1333 MHz (officially), but many boards support overclocking to 1600–1866 MHz.

- Maximum Capacity: 32 GB (depends on motherboard).

Issues:

- DDR3 lags behind DDR4/DDR5 in speed and energy efficiency.

- No support for XMP 2.0 — manual overclocking via BIOS.

Recommendation: Use 2 modules of 8 GB DDR3-1600 MHz for a balance of price and performance.

Power Supply: How Many Watts Do You Need?

With a TDP of 95 W and no integrated graphics:

- Minimum PSU: 400 W (for a system with a GTX 1650 level GPU).

- Recommended: 500–550 W (with headroom for powerful graphics cards and overclocking).

Examples:

- For a build with an RTX 3050: Corsair CX550 (80+ Bronze, $60–70).

- For a budget option: EVGA 500 BR (80+, $45).

Important: Old PSUs can degrade — do not use units older than 8–10 years.

Pros and Cons of the i5-2550K in 2025

Advantages:

- Low Cost: $15–25 on the secondary market.

- Overclocking Potential: Can achieve 4.2–4.5 GHz with good cooling.

- Sufficient Performance for basic tasks: office work, browsing, older games.

Disadvantages:

- Outdated Architecture: Lacks support for AVX2, PCIe 3.0/4.0, USB 3.1.

- Limited Multithreading: 4 threads compared to 8+ in modern CPUs.

- High Power Consumption by 2025 standards.

Use Cases: Where the i5-2550K is Still Relevant

1. Office PCs: Document work, video conferencing.

2. Media Centers: Streaming video (1080p), basic editing in Shotcut.

3. Retro Gaming: Games up to 2015 (Skyrim, GTA V on low settings).

4. Servers: NAS or home server based on Linux.

Limitations:

- Modern games (Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield) will run at extremely low FPS.

- Editors like Premiere Pro or Blender — not recommended.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition (2010):

- Cheaper ($10–15) but has worse IPC (single-threaded performance difference — ~30%).

Intel Core i7-2600K (2011):

- Hyper-Threading (8 threads), better in multitasking (used price — $35–50).

Modern Alternatives:

- Intel Core i3-10100F (2020): 4 cores/8 threads, Geekbench 6 Multi-Core ~4000, new price — $80.

- AMD Ryzen 3 3100 (2020): 4 cores/8 threads, PCIe 4.0 support, new price — $90.

Conclusion: The i5-2550K lags behind even budget CPUs from the 2020s but wins in price.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Look for models with Z77/P67 chipsets and functional VRM.

2. Cooling: A cooler like the DeepCool Gammaxx 400 ($20) for overclocking.

3. Graphics Card: Optimal choice — GTX 1060 or RX 570 (commonly available used for $50–80).

4. Storage: An SSD (even SATA) is essential for system speed.

5. Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1600 MHz — minimum for multitasking.

Example Build (Budget $200):

- CPU: i5-2550K ($20).

- Motherboard: used ASUS P8Z77-V ($50).

- GPU: GTX 970 ($60).

- RAM: 16 GB DDR3 ($25).

- SSD: 480 GB ($30).

- PSU: EVGA 500 BR ($45).

Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the i5-2550K?

This processor is worth considering only in two cases:

1. Upgrading an Old PC: If you already have an LGA1155 motherboard and DDR3.

2. Budget Build: When you need a PC for basic tasks at minimal cost.

Why Not?

- It is weak for modern gaming and professional tasks.

- Energy efficiency does not meet 2025 standards.

Alternative: If budget allows, it is better to add $50–70 and get a used Core i7-3770K or a new Ryzen 3 4100.

In 2025, the i5-2550K is a relic, but it can still be useful for niche tasks. The key is to realistically assess its capabilities and not expect miracles from a 13-year-old CPU.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-2550K

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.40 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.80 GHz

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1155 | LGA1155

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

32 nm

TDP

95 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

21 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

677

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2023

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

875

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2911

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1750

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4099

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E5-2623 v4

802 +18.5%

Xeon E3-1505L v6

733 +8.3%

Core i5-2550K

677

PRO A12-8870E

641 -5.3%

Xeon E5-2690 v2

599 -11.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Athlon Gold 7220U

2441 +20.7%

FX-9590

2194 +8.5%

Core i5-2550K

2023

Core i5-2450P

1850 -8.6%

Pentium Gold G6500

1700 -16%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 5 2400G

906 +3.5%

Xeon E5-1680 v4

890 +1.7%

Core i5-2550K

875

Ryzen 5 1400

860 -1.7%

Core i7-7800X X-series

841 -3.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1260L v5

3183 +9.3%

Core i7-4870HQ

3057 +5%

Core i5-2550K

2911

Core i5-8305G

2769 -4.9%

Xeon E3-1225 v6

2658 -8.7%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2695 v3

1798 +2.7%

Pentium G4600T

1772 +1.3%

Core i5-2550K

1750

Xeon D-2141I

1713 -2.1%

Xeon E5-2630L v4

1691 -3.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-7300

4530 +10.5%

Core i3-7100

4342 +5.9%

Core i5-2550K

4099

Core i5-2400

3862 -5.8%

PRO A12-9800

3666 -10.6%